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Tens of thousands of runners will descend on the capital this weekend to take part in this year's London Marathon. The 2026 event received a record-breaking 1.13 million ballot applications - a 36% increase year on year - and is expected to see around 59,000 runners cross the start line as they take on the gruelling 26.2 mile race.

The London Marathon 2026 will take place on Sunday, April 26, from Greenwich and Blackheath, with the wheelchair race kicking things off at 8.50am. The elite women's race will get underway from 9.05am, followed by the elite men and first wave of mass participation from 9.35am.

The 26.2 mile (42.195km) route will pass various city landmarks along the way including Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf. The route then passes Tower Hill and heads towards Blackfriars and along the Embankment. Runners will have the chance to experience incredible crowd support as they pass the London Eye, Big Ben and Westminster, before passing Buckingham Palace and crossing the world-famous Finish Line on The Mall.

With 59,000 runners taking part, and thousands of spectators expected to take to the streets of central London to cheer them on, the capital will be buzzing with activity this weekend. As such, road closures will be in place across the route so that the event can go ahead safely, so drivers should brace for some disruption on the roads this weekend, including in the lead-up to the race.

Here's the full list of road closures and timings you need to know so you can plan ahead.

Road closures will be in force across London before and after the London Marathon on Sunday, April 26. These include the following:

Canary Wharf

Roads will be closed in Canary Wharf from 8am to 8.30pm on Sunday, April 26. The course will use several different roads in Canary Wharf, including Montgomery Street, Water Street and Charter Street.

This year there will be an extended closure between 6am and 8am on Sunday, April 26, within a small section of Canary Wharf to allow for infrastructure to be installed. This will impact eastbound traffic on North Colonnade between Westferry Circus and Upper Bank Street and northbound traffic on Upper Bank Street between South Colonnade and Aspen Way.

Greenwich

Several roads in Greenwich will be closed from 7am to 4pm on Sunday, April 26.

Drivers will be able to cross the route at a Vehicle Crossing Point on Creek Road before 8.40am. The Vehicle Crossing Point will then close to allow TCS London Marathon participants to pass and will reopen at 3.10pm.

The Greenwich Foot Tunnel will be open for the duration of Marathon Day but will operate one way only - south to north - between 10am and 12.30pm.

For southbound travel between 10am and 12.30pm, drivers should use the Docklands Light Railway services from Island Gardens.

Rotherhithe

Roads will be closed in Rotherhithe from 8am to 4pm on Sunday, April 26. Any vehicles parked on the route will start to be removed at 4am on Sunday, April 26.

Isle of Dogs

Roads on the Isle of Dogs will close at 8am and reopen at 8.30pm on Sunday, April 26. Event vehicles, assisted by stewards, will be available to guide vehicles along Westferry Road when it is safe to do so before 8.30am and after 5.30pm only. Drivers will be unable to return to Westferry Road until the roads are reopened.

Queen Anne's Gate

Queen Anne's Gate between Broadway and the entrance to St James's Park will be closed on Sunday, April 26.

To reduce disruption Queen Anne's Gate will close, as and when required, between 11:00 and 18:00 to help safely manage the number of spectators.

Wapping

The Highway will be closed from 8am to 8.30pm on Sunday, April 26. Residents of Wapping are affected by the route as it passes along The Highway between Miles 13 and 14 and again on the opposite carriageway between Miles 21 and 22.

Before 9.05am, drivers will be able to cross the route at a Vehicle Crossing Point at the junction of The Highway and Glamis Road, allowing entry and exit north and south. The Vehicle Crossing Point will then close to allow TCS London Marathon participants to pass. It is expected to reopen at 6.30pm.

Westminster

The following extended closure and reopening times will be in place in Westminster:

Trafalgar Square:

Surrounding roads and several nearby roads closed from 7.30am until 10pm on Sunday, April 26.

The affected roads include: Whitehall, Pall Mall East, Cockspur Street, Strand westbound (entire road), Strand eastbound (between Trafalgar Square and Bedford Street), Charing Cross Road (between Strand and William IV Street), and Duncannon Street.

Vehicle access to and from the Adam Street and John Adam Street area will be facilitated throughout the day via the junction of Strand, Waterloo Bridge and Kingsway.

Spring Gardens will be closed from 6am on Friday, April 24 and until 6am on Monday, April 27.

The Mall and Marlborough Road:

Closed from 5am on Thursday, April 23 until 6pm on Monday, April 27.

Spur Road, Constitution Hill, Horse Guards Road and Birdcage Wake (Eastbound):

Closed from 6am on Friday, April 24 until 6am on Monday, April 27.

Birdcage Walk (Westbound):

Open for westbound traffic until 6am on Saturday, April 25, after which it will close. It will reopen at 6am on Monday, April 27.

Westcombe Park

A short section of Shooters Hill Road and Charlton Way will close at 4am on Sunday, April 26 while a Start Area gantry is installed.

The following roads will close at 7am: Shooters Hill Road, St Johns Park, Old Dover Road, Charlton Way, Vanbrugh Park, Charlton Road, Charlton Park Road, Charlton Park Lane and Woolwich Road (A206). Roads will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

Roads to the south of Westcombe Park are anticipated to reopen by 2.30pm, while roads to the north of Westcombe Park are anticipated to reopen by 3pm.

Vehicle Crossing Point Drivers will be able to cross the route from Vanbrugh Hill to Blackwall Lane until 8.40am and after 1.35pm.

Listed is the full road closure timetable mile by mile for Sunday, April 26:

Race Start Closures

• 04:00 - 14:30: Charlton Way (Red Start) and Shooters Hill Road (Blue Start)
• 07:00 - 14:30: St Johns Park (Pink Start)

Mile-by-Mile Closures

• Mile 1 (07:00 - 14:30): Charlton Park Road, Shooters Hill Road, and Old Dover Road
• Mile 2 (07:00 - 14:30): Little Heath and Charlton Park Lane
• Mile 3 (07:00 - 14:30): Artillery Place and John Wilson Street
• Mile 4 (07:00 - 15:00): Woolwich Church Street
• Mile 5 (07:00 - 15:00): Woolwich Road
• Mile 6 (07:00 - 16:00): Trafalgar Road
• Mile 7 (07:00 - 16:00): Creek Road
• Mile 8 (08:00 - 16:00): Evelyn Street
• Miles 9-12 (08:00 - 16:00): Surrey Quays Road, Salter Road, Brunel Road, and Jamaica Road
• Mile 12.5 (08:00 - 20:30): Tower Bridge
• Mile 14 (08:00 - 20:30): The Highway (South Side)
• Mile 14.5 (08:00 - 20:30): Narrow Street
• Miles 15-16 (08:00 - 20:30): Westferry Road
• Mile 17 (08:00 - 20:30): East Ferry Road
• Mile 18 (08:00 - 20:30): Marsh Wall
• Mile 19 (08:00 - 20:30): Bank Street and North Colonnade
• Mile 20 (08:00 - 20:30): Poplar High Street
• Mile 21 (08:00 - 20:30): Commercial Road
• Mile 22 (08:00 - 20:30): The Highway (North Side)
• Mile 23 (07:30 - 21:00): Byward Street
• Mile 24 (07:30 - 21:00): Upper and Lower Thames Street
• Mile 25 (07:30 - 22:00): Victoria Embankment and Parliament Square

Finish Area Closures

• Spring Gardens: Closed 06:00 Friday (April 24) - 06:00 Monday (April 27)
• Birdcage Walk (Westbound): Closed 06:00 Saturday (April 25) - 06:00 Monday (April 27)